But number 1-2 defenseman, shouldn't get a free pass. He[dman] had the tools and didn't use them to get the job done. He was an F'n turnstyle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by timothy

Defensemen blow coverage on players every game. The goalie HAS to stop the easy ones. HAS TO.

I went ahead and reversed the order on these, since after all the goalie is the last line of defense.

After Hedman fails to take the body (and who on earth could have predicted THAT) the team is counting on the G to make the high-percentage, easier saves at the very least. Hedman shouldn't have waved his 'tragic wand' [thankew thankew] at Nash; and Garon should have. Both our goalies seem to have a troubling deficiency with covering sharp angles (the easiest ones to defend). It's hard to imagine a worse angle than Nash had, parallel to the goal line...after this many years in the crease it seems like it ought to be just an automatic reflex for Garon to chop that puck away--like he'd have to really force himself NOT to. I don't get it, but then I'm not a goaltender

No one's giving him a fucking free pass. He blew it. Now, journeyman backup goalie make the pedestrian stop and win the game in spite of the blown coverage.

Very true- Good play by Nash, bad play by Hedman AND Garon didn't make the save- happens all the time in the NHL. Hedman will remember that hopefully, and get better from it- the players ALL looked a little tired in the back to back- Rangers did what they had to do to take the two points. Credit to them for winning a game they needed to win against a tired team. Now just gotta regroup and beat the Philistines.

I'm just thinking how bloody close we came to winning this game, despite the back-to-back[up], the rested opponent, etc. We were about three inches from Crombeen's goal counting, Hedman & Garon probably wouldn't routinely roll out the welcome mat in the crease, we earned another PP chance or two that we didn't get, which has been cash money for this club...unlike the first handful of games, in the 2nd we didn't get bossed around like a Manhattan soda vendor, instead going 1-1 with NYR for the period...Marty looks like his legs are 28, not 38....Stamkos scoring in the final seconds makes a statement of sorts also...not to put too much lipstick on a home winning streak-killing loss, the positives are worth mention at least

here are the facts..and take them for what they are:
-8/10 points for homestand
-have more goals than CAR & FL combined
-everyone has point points up/contributing (besides Lee, but thats a whole different story)
-We arent relying on Stamkos/St Louis every game
-We have 2 solid goaltenders w/ Lindback showing huge potential
- have you seen this kid Conacher?
-Vinny is playing like the old vinny....almost
-have I mentioned the defense is a world apart from previous years?

We played the supposed to be "top ranked" rangers on a back-to-back night and still nearly won the game. If we had rest and a call or 2 that we earned...the score would have been different. Thats the truth. Conacher and crombeen goals were milliseconds off and Garon was sloppy on a couple. But Im not going to criticize because this start has been better than anyone expected.